Marco Christmas tree ready for lighting

Roger LaLonde Staff Jim Jourdan of Lee County Electric Cooperative, puts the star on top of the 30-foot Christmas tree that will electrify the audience at the Island Christmas Style Lighting Ceremony at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Veteran's Community Park.

Roger LaLonde Staff (6) As the first section of the 30-foot Christmas is put in place, volunteers complete its decorations, while Jim Minyard of Condee Electric begins putting together the electrical connections inside. The tree will be aglow when it is lighted at the Christmas Island Style Tree Lighting Ceremony that begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Veteran's Community Park.

Roger LaLonde Staff Thanks to the Italian American Society of Marco Island, which purchased the tree some 10 years ago, and other volunteers, the 30-foot Christmas tree was decorated and erected on Tuesday. The Christmas Island Style Tree Lighting Ceremony begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Veteran's Community Park.

Roger LaLonde Staff Jim Jourdan of Lee County Electric Cooperative, sets the third section of the 30-foot Christmas tree in place on Tuesday. The tree will be lit at the annual Christmas Island Style Tree Lighting Ceremony that begins 6 p.m. on Saturday at Veteran's Community Park.

Christmas decorations wait to go on the 30-foot Christmas tree, which was erected on Tuesday.

Fred Carchietta, an Italian American Society of Marco Island member. works inside the 30-foot artifiicial tree to bolt a section of the tree frame together.

Members of the Italian American Society take a break as they and other volunteers decorate and erect the 30-foot Christmas tree to be lit at the Christmas Island Style Tree Lighting Ceremony that begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Roger LaLonde Staff A view from inside the 30-foot Christmas tree that was erected on Tuesday at Marco Island Veteran's Community Park. Shown is Greg Schneider of Condee Electric as he puts together electric connections. The Christmas Island Style Tree Lightning Ceremony begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Roger LaLonde Staff Volunteers complete decorating a section of the 30-foot Christmas tree as Jim Jourdan of Lee County Electric Cooperative is about to lift the section to be connected to other sections. The tree was erected on Tuesday and will be lit during the Christmas Island Style Tree Lighting Ceremony on Saturday night at Veteran's Community Park.